Epilogue

Epilogue

It was the same autumn in the Uttarkashi. Poplar, sycamore and ficus trees around the small ancient temple on the mountain were golden yellow. Time-to-time air shook them and a burst of leaves flew in the air. Dry or yellow leaves were lying on the ground. Pine and deodar trees were still green, but their cones were dry and empty of their seeds. Time to time a pinecone crashed on the ground with a cracking sound and once a while someone visited the temple and rang the bell.

Rishi lay on the temple’s concrete platform in his favorite Buddha reclining position. He was not thinking but gazing in the valley at the holy river. It was beginning of the Himalayan winter and wind was cold but still bearable. River was sparkling in the noon sun but its noise was not audible because of the hissing of the wind.
Vinita was sitting cross-legged on a piece of rag next to the platform. Tears fell from her eyes.
“When I was poor I was in sorrow,” she said, “Now, I am rich of the richest I am in sorrow.”
He stayed silent; he was watching the flight of a vulture. It was climbing up gracefully with the rhythmic strokes of its wings and then it glided effortlessly but lost a little height.
“When I was poor at least I was not lonely,” said she. “But I am lonely today.”
Valley was gradually heating up with the noon sun of the winter and vulture entered into a thermal. Draft of warmer air was lifting it in an invisible large spiral. It spread its wings and started rising effortlessly in a large circle.
“I am the victim,” said Vinita. “Rishi, You used me. It was your setup.”
He was still looking at the vulture; it drifted out of the hot current but stroked its wings and joined the pattern again.
“There are three things,” said Rishi, “One: what we ask God. Second: what we have in our mind but fail to ask God.”
“And what is the third,” said she, “because I know only about the two you said.”
“Third is the Inshaah Allah or the Wish of the God. We don’t ask for it but we live with it effortlessly.”
Vinita tried to comprehend what Rishi said and suddenly her resistance dropped.
A sudden wind came with a whistle and a mass of leaves flew from the trees.
Ecstasy entered in her mind. She saw a poplar leaf drifted with the wind, and flew near her. She saw its veins, its yellow color and sunlight reflected from its glossy surface for a moment. As it drifted near her slowly, she saw, a small brilliant red insect was also sitting over it; leaf went past her. Her eyes stayed on the leaf till it disappeared in the space.
Vinita felt like she was a leaf in the wind. Burdens of her mind dropped and effortlessness visited her. Her ears were filled with the sounds of the creation; she felt the fragrance of pine and deodar trees. Air was shaking the trees and she heard the crackling of the trunks. She heard the humming of a bee. A pinecone fell on the concrete surface, her whole body listened its cracking sound. She gazed in the valley at the sparkling, dancing and playing Holy River. Someone rang the temple bell; she heard and felt the ringing in her ears as well in the whole body. Her whole body became the vessel of the creation.
She smiled.
Vinita rose, she took Rishi’s hand and kissed it, she turned and left.
Rishi watched her leaving.
As she was below him, he shouted, “You didn’t say me thank you.”
“Who will say thank you to whom? There is only Ganga Mai.”

End of Epilogue

End of the “Roger goes to Himalayas"

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

After four years.

It was a pretty autumn noon in the northeast United States. Colors of the Foliage were changing by each minute. Colorful dry leaves were falling off the trees everywhere. It rained in the morning and air was cold wet and misty. Delaware River flowed silently in the heavily wooded valley between New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Rishi was sitting on a wet rock with his bare feet hanging in the freezing cold waters of the River. A whirl of wind carried a cloud of leaves from the small mountain at the other side in the Pennsylvania, to his direction. Most of the leaves fell in the clear water but some went higher and landed around Rishi. One red leaf landed on his forehead and hung on his hairs; he felt its cool surface on his face and smelled its fresh fragrance of autumn. A rush of air took the leaf again and it fell in the water and started moving silently with the river.

Suddenly mist cleared for a moment and silver painted, wet suspension footbridge was now shining at some distance. Play of clouds and Sun made the foliage even more spectacular. Colors varied from soft gentle to the brilliant florescent red in thousands of shades.

Rishi saw his cousin sister Radhika, on the footbridge. She was carrying cup of coffee and a newspaper. From the height of bridge she was looking for him, she looked in his direction but apparently she was unable to see him because he was completely merged with the colors of nature.

Rishi rose, he called her. Now she saw him and waved him with her newspaper. He picked his shoes and walked barefoot on the trail in the woods to meet her in the half way. Whole path looked like a colorful carpet paved by the leaves. Rishi felt the softness and cool of the wet leaves.

“You were lost in colors.” She handed him the disposable cup.
He took the coffee cup but it was cold and he spilled it but saved the cup. She was not offended.
“Well, café is far away,” she said, “and coffee went cold.”
He wore his shoes and washed his hands and the cup from a water fountain.
“Do you want real hot tea?”
“Who doesn’t?” she said, while touching a mole on her left eyebrow.
She was twenty-three years old, very pretty except that she had a large mole on her left eyebrow.
“Touching won’t cure it.”
She was embarrassed. “Yes I know.”
She was sad instantly because she hated her mole. Doctors operated upon it twice but it grew back again.
“Last time I saw you five years ago,” said Rishi, “and you are getting married in five days. I will like to listen to your story, fill up the gap.”
Rishi was her favorite big cousin brother, she felt easy with him so she started telling him her story. She told him about her friends, college, relatives, boy-friends, her passions, her fears, her expectations, her dreams and about her fiancée and his family and all.
Rishi saw the campsite sign and led her to that direction. They walked and laughed.

Rishi found an abandoned lighter on the trail, he tried and it worked. He pocketed it.
She laughed.
“I think you asked me,” she said, “if I want real hot tea?”
“Yes that’s what I am working on.”
“There is no tea here. The only shop it across the bridge.”
“I am working on your tea, then what happened to your friend, Christina.”
Radhika continued her own story. She felt Rishi was listening to her attentively.
She told how she found her fiancée and now that they are getting married. She was so absorbed with her story that she didn’t even notice that they were in the campsite. Site was empty. She was wearing a long fur coat with her hands in the pocket. Rishi was wearing a full sleeved cotton shirt. Sun and clouds were still playing with each other. Strong winds were caring leaves in all directions.
Rishi was looking around; on a campsite he found an abandoned large aluminum pan with broken handle.
“Synyorita, This would be fine,” he muttered.
“Amigo, this is junk,” Radhika said, “This is USA, not India.”
Rishi banged the pan on the wood camping table, sticking leaves and mud fell off.
“This would be fine.”
“Why it would be fine?” she got curious.
“To make tea.”
Radhika shouted, “Are you crazy?”
“A pan is a pan, I am going to clean it.”
“Forget it, you don’t’ know what some one did in it.”
“We will wash it as clean as new. It is the imagination that makes things clean or dirty.”
“You do whatever you want, I won’t drink you tea.”
“Now we need to make the fire.”
“Good idea,” she said, “I can warm my hands in the fire.”
“We will warm our hands,” said Rishi, “and drink the hot tea.”
“Am I a bum?” She said, “We own five Exxon Gas Stations and my fiancé is a rich man he owns ten motels in Atlantic City. Hah! Tea in an abandoned frying pan!”
“Tea is a tea,” said Rishi.
“You drink your scavenger’s tea and may I ask, where you would find other ingredients?”
Rishi selected a campsite that was only fifty feet from the river, placed the empty coffee cup on the camping table.
“From here. Now, be a good girl and go wash this pan.”
Radhika said softly, “OK I will wash it but I won’t drink your tea. My reward will be the fire to warm myself.” She left the newspaper on the table and took the pan to the river.

Rishi walked around and gathered abandoned firewood from next site. Then he burned most of the damp newspaper to start a fire in the campfire box-grill, when he saw Roger’s picture on a page in the business section he saved it. Finally damp leaves and wood caught fire and he arranged firewood over it.

She came back with the clean pan and saw the soot of the newspaper flying around.
“My newspaper gone!” She was a disappointed.
Then Radhika saw Roger’s picture on the remaining page.
“Hey Rishi. Billionaire Roger moved in New Jersey.” She said, “He bought a walled Bellaire mansion near Princeton airport. We, I and dad drove around it. Few days ago my girl friend saw him at the Princeton Airport; he was alighting from a huge Chinook helicopter.”
Rishi looked at the clean fry pan, It was shining “Thanks for washing it.”
“It was clean.” She said, “I think it was new but someone abandoned it because of broken handle.”
“I am going to search more firewood.”
A good-sized fire was burning and she warmed herself.
Rishi walked around campsites, found another heap of abandoned firewood at a site.

“I am going to fetch water from the river.”
Rishi went to river, filled up the pan with water and brought to fire and placed it on the iron grill.

He walked in woods and pulled some bark off from a tree trunk, uprooted a plant from the wet soft ground and saved the rhizome, plucked few wild berries from two plants and also he found several green unripe apples under some apple trees. She was watching him with curiosity.
“You know, passing each day you are becoming more eccentric.”
Rishi smiled. He went to the river and washed up all things. On a rain-washed rock he arranged everything including apples and mashed up everything with a clear round stone.
She said, “I believe now you are in herbs.”
Rishi picked up the meshed matter with clean dry leaves and put it in the boiling water.
She screamed, “Oh my God! No, no, no, no.”
He sat with her and warmed his hands.
“I am not going to drink it and by the way do you know the ingredients. You may die with poisons.”
“I know some of the things, like Thuja leaves, Dulcamara, Berbaris, Phytolacca, Slippery Elm tree bark and apples.”

Contents in the pan were boiling, when half water was left, he tilted the pan and filled up the empty paper cup in a way to let only liquid fell in the cup.
She screamed, “You fool, don’t drink it. I thought you were joking.”
Rishi started sipping.
Want to have some, “He asked.”
“Forget it.”
“I know the contents.” Rishi said, “You won’t get hurt. It is fun to drink warm herbal tea in this weather.”
She dipped her finger in the pan and licked it and said, “It seems alright, and are you sure about the contents.”
“Yes.”
“OK I will have some, first you finish your cup then if you are still alive, I will have some.”

They drank up the whole liquid.
“Amigo, that was not bad.” she said, “not bad at all. Hope I won’t die. I know you won’t but I am worried about myself.”
“When I said I know the contents, I lied.” Rishi laughed.
She was really worried and in half hour she felt a strange tingling at the mole of her eyebrow. Now she was scratching it.

They saw a canoe in the river; her two brothers saw them, they waved and paddled in their direction. Rishi helped his cousins to drag the canoe out of water. Campsite was accessible by the car.
She was still sitting by the fire.
Younger brother cried with joy, “Wow! Fire. Good, good, good.”
They walked to fire.
She cheerfully announced, “We had hot mud tea.”
“Mr. Know-it-all made it.” Elder brother said, “Need not to tell.”
They laughed
Fire was dying and Rishi looked at the lone newspaper page having Roger’s picture but he was not interested in the news so he burned it too, and added more wood. They pulled camping table near fire and sat on it.
“Where is the page,” she asked, “with billionaire Roger’s picture.”
“I burned it.”
“You idiot. I wanted to read his news. President of the United States came to his Princeton home to say hello at his reelection champagne.”
“India’s Railway Minister Kalu Yadav stayed with him on his US trip,” Elder brother said, “The only Minister free from taint.”
Rishi said, “Interesting.”
She asked Rishi, “So what are you giving me as a wedding present.”
“I already gave you a wedding present,” said Rishi, “I made you a tea.”
Tingling on her eyebrow was unbearable now.
“Rishi,” she shouted. “What did you put in the tea? So far I just had a mole but today you gave me a severe itch. Oh my God! It is burning.”
“Don’t worry about the pain. You were asking about your wedding present,” said Rishi.
“My eyebrow is burning and you are talking about wedding present.”
“Rishi,” elder brother said, “what did you put in the tea.”
“A birthday present.”
“Grow up Rishi and behave,” brother said, “you can’t pull your stunts on a girl who is getting married in a week. Because of her mole she already had a hard time finding a husband. It seems like you will blow this one in no time.”

2

“So Rishi, I am getting married today. Aren’t you supposed to give me a wedding present?”
Rishi looked at her face, mole at her left eyebrow was almost gone.
“Don’t look at my face.” She said, “That day, you almost killed me with your poison tea. This time my dermatologist used a new steroid and it really worked. Thank God.”
Rishi smiled.
“So where is my wedding present.”
“How about a greeting card, I will make it myself.”
“I don’t need crap.” Said she, “What would I do with a piece of paper?”
“OK. From Hyderabad, I bought a black pearls necklace for you, how about that?”
“From India! I don’t like things from India. But I won’t offend you by not accepting it. I know you are a poor brother.”

3

Like a dry leaf Rishi found himself standing at the black wrought iron grilled gate at Roger’s villa that spread over several acres of heavily wooded rolling hills with a high wall around its periphery. Home was not visible but a tar-paved road ran straight behind the huge automatic gate and ended at the wall of the trees probably it turned right or left there. It was colorful rainbow of foliage, and dry leaves were flying everywhere in the Garden State of New Jersey. He walked seven miles on an unpaved road by the Delaware & Raritan Canal, and three miles on the other roads; he enjoyed every moment of it. It was already evening at 3pm.

A video camera with a light and an illuminated bell button were visible at the side of gate. He looked into the video camera and pressed the bell button.
“Who is this,” a lady in oriental accent spoke on the Intercom.

“You look same Vinita,” said Rishi. “Even prettier.”
“No I do not look same but you are ageless. You haven’t changed in years.”
“How is the life?”
“Well I am busy and Roger is busy and time flew. How is your life?”
“Time flew.”
They laughed.
“How is Roger? I saw his picture in the newspaper he looks old.”
“Yes he looks old; he has gone to pick up some guests form the airport.”
Rishi noticed the preparations were going on in a huge and very high living room at the end of hallway.
He said, “I can see you are expecting guests.”
“We are lucky that guests are coming otherwise we would never find Roger at home.”
“Rishi, you just vanished in this world,” said Vinita, “I have a surprise waiting for you for the last four years. Come.”
Whole villa was a single storied structure, with thirty feet high ceilings and many chandeliers, even in the hallways.
She held his hand and led him to a huge carved door and pushed it open and turned on the lights.
“Rishi, This is my office. I work from home.”
They were in a very large room with several computers, fax machines, copiers and other office equipments. Three walls had huge windows behind the top to bottom, half opened curtains. Four large sofas were spread around a huge mahogany table and an armchair behind it.
“Nice office.”
“Roger made me partner in all his enterprises around the world. There are over five billion dollars invested on my side. I use that income to run the poverty eradication programs around the world. Those five billion dollars are on my own name, no strings attached to even one single penny.”
Rishi pointed to the only chair in the room. “Is that your chair?”
“Come.” Vinita pulled him to the chair.
His picture was lying on the chair.
“I work for you. This is your chair, now that you have come, we don’t need this picture.”
“Picture is doing a good job,” said he, “real good.”
“No. It is your chair. I know you love nature. I planned this room with you in my mind.”
“Huh.”
“Don’t just say huh,” said Vinita.
She went to the huge window and pressed a button, as window opened a gush of cold air entered in the heated room. Rishi saw crimson rays of the sun behind the colorful foliage on the trees. It was getting stormy outside and leaves were flying everywhere.
“Whole money is yours. You started these programs. Roger invested that money also which was yours to keep, and that too has grown multiple times.”
“Huh! Where is your son?” Rishi changed the subject.
“He is sleeping. I will bring him to you soon.”
Rishi stayed silent.
Vinita said, “You changed the subject. I work for you. You disappeared so I had to put your picture on this chair.”
“Picture has done a good job. If it isn’t broke don’t fix it.”

Suddenly Vinita was very sad and she had tears in her eyes.
She closed the window, a leaf entered in the space from the huge window and it gradually settled on the chair next to his picture.

They came in another living room and sat on the opposite sofas.
“Are you happy with your life,” Rishi asked.
“Yes I am happy and Roger has no time to be happy or sad. He is a machine. Like every couple we have ups and downs but our marriage is surviving. We went to Uttarkashi twice and met our friends. We were drifting apart and actually those two trips saved our marriage and we came near again. This year we couldn’t make it because little Rishi was sick. Oh by the way our son’s name is also Rishi.”
Rishi laughed. “Rishi is a good name.”
She also laughed.
“How is Sonny?”
“He is doing fine. he is also working for you heading your South Asian programs. He along with his mother build and started the school complex and got married to a pretty schoolteacher. They have a beautiful daughter, two years old, as pretty as her mother. Guess what her name is?”
Rishi said with a smile on his face, “Rishika.”
“How did you know?” asked Vinita then laughingly said, “That is not important.”
They laughed.
“How is Sonny’s hand?”
“Like nothing ever happened except suture marks, they were here in the summer. Kalu Yadav also stayed with us. Mahadev also works for you and anytime we need a Pundit Joshi Ji come here.”
“How about Gangagiri.”
“Maharaj is doing fine,” she replied with smile, “he is also working for you, he runs your hospital/research facility to investigate medicinal plants. He treated Roger again and we all are a family. He gave up Hermit’s cloak long ago, also cut his hairs short.”
Rishi said with a smile, “So he is not a Hermit anymore.”
“No. He is not a Hermit anymore,” she went on. “Rishi, what would you like to drink?”
“Lemon tea if you have lemon.”
“We always keep lemons in our home in the hope that you would come one day.”
Vinita walked to another room where four maids were busy arranging snacks on a very long dinning table. She asked a maid to bring two cups of lemon tea and some snacks. Then she disappeared in the maze of hallways.

She brought a three years old, sleeping boy in her arms, he was wearing a brilliant green colored tee-shirt with the Giraffes printed over it and blue jeans with small animals printed on the bottoms.
Rishi took the boy in his own arms he opened his eyes.
She said, “Say hello to Uncle Rishi.”
Kid said instead, “Would you like to see me dancing.”
Rishi ordered, “Then Dance.”
Rishi put him on the sofa; he jumped off and pulled Rishi to adjoining huge room.
It was apparent that, room was kid’s playroom. Toys were arranged neatly and a tricycle was lying in a corner. There was only a single arm-sofa-seat and a low table with a stereo system on it.
Vinita walked behind them.
“Uncle, sit on the chair.” Rishi sat on the arm-sofa-seat with his both arms resting on the arms of seat and crossed his leg over the other.
There was no other furniture in the room, so Vinita stood next to Rishi. Kid inserted a CD in the stereo and atmosphere was filled up with Spanish song.
Rishi looked into kid’s eyes. “Now Dance.”

Kid danced with an intense vigor. He danced like a Zulu warrior, danced like a Punjabi Bhangra dancer, danced like a tap dancer. He was jumping, running, whirling, twisting and rolling. He maintained an eye contact with Rishi and time-to-time ran to him to touch him.
Rishi raised his arms and ordered, “You are tired now come and rest.”
Kid came to Rishi dancingly and climbed over his lap and inhaled few deep breadths. Then he jumped back on the carpeted floor and again danced, and danced with the same vigor. This cycle was repeated several times. All maids left their work and came to watch. The maid who was bringing lemon tea for Rishi and Vinita forget to serve them the tea but watched the dance.
Vinita ran to fetch her mother-in-law, old lady came running and watched the dancing kid.

Roger entered in the Villa with three famous men and found the house deserted, then he heard the sound of music coming from his kid’s play room, he walked there to see what is going on. His guests walked behind him and as they stepped in the room everybody was instantly hypnotized and froze to see the dance that lasted another twenty minutes.
Rishi was sitting on the single sofa-seat like a king and kid was dancing in front of him.
Rishi ordered, “You are tired now come and rest.”
Kid ran to him dancingly and climbed over Rishi’s lap.
They were about to clap but kid slept instantly and nobody wanted to wake him up. He was snoring. Everybody stayed frozen for a about a minute.
Vinita stood next to Rishi and suddenly she found Roger standing next to her.
Rishi kissed the kid.
Roger whispered in her ears, “Kissed by an angel.”
Silently Vinita took the kid to his bedroom.
Roger and Rishi hugged. “It is very nice to see you. Elvis. How are you?”
“Sethi I am well, I must go,” Rishi declared.
Roger laughed and said, “Why!”
“Some other time.”
Roger wanted Rishi to stay but three billionaire guests have arrived form Washington DC, on a helicopter. A very important deal was to be signed; he had no time to argue. They shook hands.
“Please come again,” He said.
“Roger, please go and attend your guests,” said Rishi and turned to the main hallway leading to the entrance. He opened the door and automatic furnace in the ceiling turned on hot air draft in the whole porch. He came out. Vinita followed after him.
A Lamborghini car was standing at the entrance; it was obvious that Roger brought his guest on that car.
“Vinita you are not wearing a jacket, stay in the hot air.”
Vinita stayed in the porch and Rishi stepped on the driveway.
Storm of dry leaves welcomed them. Suddenly he was knee deep in the leaves and then the rush of air shifted the leaves to the juniper bushes across the driveway. Cold stormy air was flying the leaves in the circles with a noise.
She asked, “Where is your car?”
“I walked.”
She was astonished and bewitched.
“Well I request you to go back to the guests,” said Rishi.
Suddenly Roger appeared on the door.
“Elvis,” Roger said, “I will drive you, unless you want to stay here.”
“My cousin sister got married day before yesterday, she will be visiting her home with her hubby.”
“As you wish,” said Roger, he sat in the driver seat of the car. Rishi took the front passenger seat.
“Bye Rishi,” Vinita said, “Come again and never forget, this is your home and I work for you.”
“Everybody works for you Rishi,” said Roger. “See I am your chauffer. Now tell me where to go.”
As he drove the car, other cars arrived in the driveway. Roger waved them and car sped, it was dark and driveway was lit with landscaping lights, as they were near main gate he pressed the remote control button and gate opened. Rishi had a photographic memory and he gave him directions. They laughed and talked and arrived in the street where Rishi was staying with his uncle.

At the beginning of the short deadened street, by the mailboxes under a sodium light, a blue Mercedes car was standing with its headlights still on and from the open driver side window a man was taking out his mail.
“He is my uncle.” Rishi pointed to the Mercedes car. “Checking his mail?”
“Yes. Sethi, drop me at that blue house with a chandelier in the porch.”
Roger turned his car in the driveway and deliberately locked the doors. Rishi tried to open his door but it was locked.

“So Rishi,” Roger said. “What do you think about my life?”
Rishi laughed. “Roger, we all live to the wish of God.”
“I am serious,” Roger continued. “I am tired of my life.”
“You are tired because you think you are swimming against the current, but you are floating with the creation.”
“At this moment,” said Roger. “I surrender myself to you.”
Rishi laughed again.
“So Roger,” said Rishi. “I have no choice but to give you some order.”
Roger nodded.
“Go. Do what God made you to do.”
“That is what I always did.”
“Then do the same but without a cause.”
Both laughed, Roger slipped out of the car, walked around, opened Rishi’s door and bowed.
Rishi alighted.

Rishi was staying with his this Uncle whose daughter Radhika got married two days ago. He was a short, bald and proud man, owned five Exxon gasoline stations. He read all available biographies of Riches, they were his heroes, and he worshipped them, and always wanted to be one. He survived three heart attacks three bypass surgeries and three angioplasty procedures in the last fifteen years. His heart issues posed a minor nuisance to his race to gain more wealth. His home had a living area of six thousand square feet with an attached three-car garage and recently he signed a contract to buy a four-car garage home with seven thousand square feet living area. For the last three months he was negotiating to purchase two more gasoline stations and this time he was diversifying his operations in auto-service too. He just came from his lawyer’s office after signing the deal. He was happy because now he owned seven gas stations, two with car wash, three with convenient stores and two with convenient stores as well auto-service bays. He stopped his latest model Mercedes and opened his mailbox to take out the mail. He saw a Lamborghini car went past him; and stopped in his driveway. It was a surprise that a Lamborghini car was in his driveway. Nobody had this car in this high-class neighborhood. Who came to see him?
Rishi’s uncle forgot to close the mailbox and drove in a rush to meet the man came to his home on a Lamborghini. It would be a pleasure to meet the person who owns a Lamborghini.
He parked his car next to Lamborghini. There were two people in the Lamborghini, driver opened the door, walked around the car and opened the passenger’s door and bowed.
Rishi’s uncle wasted no time in grabbing the hand of the man who just alighted from the passenger’s seat.
“Hello! It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“Uncle,” passenger said, “it’s me, Rishi.”
Rishi’s uncle was embarrassed. Rishi and Roger both understood the situation.
“Uncle,” Rishi said. “Meet Mr. Sethi, He gave me a ride and saved me twenty dollars.”
Rishi’s uncle now grabbed Sethi’s hand and started shaking it vigorously.
“How are you Mr. Sethi? What do you do?”
Roger was about to say a word Rishi interrupted, “Sethi is in the Coal business.”
“Sethi,” Rishi said to Roger, “you have guests waiting at your home so I won’t ask you for a cup of tea.”
Rishi’s uncle looked at Rishi with venom in his eyes. He grabbed Roger’s hands again and started dragging him to his home, “Please come to my home. Have a cup of tea.”
“Some other time, as Rishi said, I have guests waiting for me at my home.”
Rishi ordered, “Sethi, go to your home.”
“Bye Elvis,” Roger said. “Bye uncle.” He sat in the car and waved his hands and reversed it and disappeared at the bend. He had no objection meeting with Rishi’s uncle, who was too eager to meet him but he was in hurry and also he anticipated that Rishi too wanted to keep the meeting private.
“You damn fool. Had you not interrupted us, this Sethi was to have a cup of tea in our home.”
“But whole way I was with him he was bragging about his guests,” said Rishi.
“I think I have seen this Sethi somewhere,” Rishi’s uncle said. “Strange! He gave you a ride and then opened your door and bowed.”
“He bowed!” Rishi said, “That I don’t know but my door handle was missing and he had to open it from outside.
“Oh! I see. I get it, now.”

4

As Rishi left Vinita muttered, “Elvis has left the building.”
She wanted to cry but she had no time to cry. He did not even drink his lemon tea, he came like a wind and gone like a wind. He left many marks; the deepest mark was on her heart. Roger went with Rishi and now it was her responsibility to entertain three important guests. Roger returned after forty minutes and found his guests busy with their documents.
“Sorry I am late.”
One said, “No problem, actually we were also busy.”
Second said, “Let’s get to work, I have to meet a senator in DC.”
They signed several documents to finalize a deal. Attorneys and Notaries attested the signatures.
Dinner was ready; they all had dinner in a rush, because everybody was busy. Three main guests had to return to the Princeton airport, where a helicopter was waiting for them. Also they had to address a press conference at the airport because media was already invited.

Roger returned after two hours. He gave her the news that he is going to Tokyo in the morning. Vinita helped him to pack. Little Rishi was still sleeping.
They went to bed and he turned off the lights.
Vinita said, “Rishi brought me luck again.”
“Really, how?”
“My father called me after many years. He said that he has ruined his life in the ashram. He regretted for the agony he caused me by breaking all the links.”
“Does he have money?” Roger asked, “I will make the arrangement that he gets it. He is always welcome here.”
“No he didn’t ask for money,” replied Vinita. “He asked for the job to serve people.”
“Rishi got lucky too”
“How did he get lucky?”
“In my today’s deal half the profit goes to you and you say what ever you have, belongs to Rishi.”
Vinita was crying.
Roger knew that she wanted to cry so he let her cry.
After a long pause he said, “Our little Rishi got lucky too.”
“Yes he got lucky too. He danced for Ganga Mai. He danced for creator and the creation.”
Tears were felling from his eyes too, she creased his hand.
After a long interval he said, “Let’s go to Uttarkashi to thank Ganga Mai.”
“Yes!” she said. “Ganga Mai came to our home today and transformed our life again.”
“Let’s pack, tomorrow morning we are going to Uttarkashi but first we will find your father, he owes us his blessings.”
Roger turned on the light switch.

5

Rishi’s both cousin brothers were at home, each ran two gasoline stations. Their sister Radhika, who got married two day ago was also there with her husband Sameer. Following morning, they were going to Spain for Honeymoon. Mole on her left eyebrow was no more, and she looked even prettier. Cousins were Rishi’s fans but his uncle always thought that Rishi was a bad influence over them but luckily Rishi lived away in India. His all efforts to rehabilitate Rishi in USA failed. He was short of manpower to run his gasoline station.
All sat on the sofas in the living room, Rishi half lay on the carpet with a sofa cushion under his head. All men were drinking beer.
Radhika announced, “Rishi has a joke to tell.”
Rishi begun, “Two donkey brothers got separated from each other.”
All laughed so Rishi had to pause.
“After a long time and far away they met in a bazaar. One was healthy and fit like a horse and other was in bad beaten up shape.”
They were still laughing, joke was still incomplete, Rishi’s uncle entered in the room.
“That man in the Lamborghini,” he yelled at Rishi. “You idiot! He fooled you. He is not Mr. Sethi.”
“Daddy,” Radhika asked, “what are you talking.”
“Today evening, a man gave Rishi ride on his Lamborghini, and fooled him that his name is Sethi.”
“Who was that man,” younger son asked.
“Then that man,” father ignored the question but continued. “He fooled Rishi further; that he is in the Coal business. Ha, ha, ha.”
All laughed and Rishi clapped his hands.
“Daddy.” eldest son asked. “Who was the man?”
Everybody wanted to know who was the man?
Rishi’s uncle announced, “He was the billionaire, Roger.”
“Oh! My God. Rishi, did he really fool you? It seems like everybody fools you. That day when you almost killed me with your mud-tea, you burned Roger’s photo without even looking at it.”
Tushar said, “Wow! Roger was here in your driveway. He said his name was Sethi.”
“Rishi,” uncle said, “Yes! Everybody fools you.”
He rushed back to his study to watch Bloomberg Business News.
Rishi was drinking his second beer and his uncle appeared again.
“Hey Rishi, didn’t Sethi say that he has guests waiting in his home.”
“Yes,” Replied Rishi. “That’s what he said.”
“Do you know who those guests were? Three Billionaires have met tonight and signed a mother-of-all-deals.”
His daughter said, “Really! Still Mr. Roger had time to give our Rishi a ride.”
They all looked at Rishi like he was a different animal.
“Uncle would you please bring me another beer,” Rishi said.
Uncle brought him a beer from the kitchen.
“You idiot!” he said with a smile on his face. “If you find a diamond on the road, you would kick it aside as a pebble. You drunkard fool!”
They all laughed.
“Oh Uncle,” Rishi said. “You didn’t bring me the bottle opener?”
Uncle went to the kitchen again and brought the opener.
“You are the only failure in the family,” said Uncle to Rishi. “You almost killed my daughter with your dirt-tea.”
“Uncle, this bottle opener is broke.”
Uncle was annoyed; he went to kitchen again, brought another bottle opener and handed it to Rishi.
“Thanks uncle.”
“Rishi you are a born loser.”
Rishi was shaking his legs in amusement.

6

Vinita saw Rishi in her dream. He was walking on a road in a cold windy day and he was not wearing a jacket. She woke up.
“Yes,” she said to herself. “Rishi was not wearing a jacket in the cold windy day. I even forgot to notice that Rishi walked several miles in the cold, wet and stormy evening and he was not wearing a jacket. Probably he had no money to buy a jacket and I failed to notice. What good is all the money I have?”
Roger was snoring; she rose from the bed, went to the other room, opened the window and tried to feel the oppressive cold air. Whistling and howling wind hit her on the face and she was not able to stand it. She shut the window and started weeping.

Indeed Rishi had no extra money to buy a jacket. His cousin sister requested him to come and visit her wedding. She attached a picture of her with her fiancé in her email. Rishi knew she has a mole on her left eyebrow but this time it was larger. He spent up all of his savings to buy a round ticket to Newark Airport in the cheapest airline.

7

“Eddie, Freddie.” Roger yelled, “What the hell is this bamboo doing in my airplane?”
“Boss it is for the monkeys. We are going to Dehradoon again. We always kept it in cargo hold but today we took it out.”


End of Chapter 20

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

May 19

A helicopter arrived to receive Kalu Yadav and Master; they were to join the other leaders in Almora.
Master took off his shoes to relax.
In the noise of rotors Kaka shouted, “Mater your feet stink we all will faint, put your shoes back or we will all crash.”
Master put back his shoes.
Kalu Yadav shouted again, “When did you wash your clothes last time.”
“I have no time. You give me no time,” Master shouted back. “I have to write hundreds poems for the speeches. Then I have to read poems to you till midnight. When do I get time?”
Kalu Yadav wanted to beat his head with his hands. “I will myself wash your clothes in Almora.”
Master shouted, “I am slowing down on my poems.”
“Which medicine worked?”
Master said, “Your friend Rishi told me that the tip of pencil could hide the beauty of a majestic mountain. I was never watching beauty but inventing the heap of words to blacken my notebooks.”
“Jai-Ganga-Mai.” Kalu Yadav had tears of joy.

2

Roger, Vinita, Jennifer and his mother were to go to first Hungary and then to New York. Sonny, his mother and Hermit were join them to Dehradoon to see them off. CEO and Mahadev were to board on Roger’s plant till Delhi, there another chartered plane was arranged to take them to Mumbai. Rishi was to split with them at Dehradoon airport, in few days, he was to go to Vancouver, Canada on a new assignment; his passport was at his home in Bangalore.

They were on the helipad and two helicopters appeared in the sky. Hira Singh and Joshi were there with their families, to see them off; they had tears in their eyes.

One hour later they landed at Dehradoon airport. Roger’s jet was already there.
A pack of monkeys was jumping over and around the aircraft and Eddie and Freddie were feeding stale bread to them.
Rishi went to Eddie and whispered in his ear, “Do you know that a monkey went inside.”
Eddie screamed to Freddie in torn up voice, “Freddie a monkey went inside.”
Freddie yelled to him, “You fool, why left the entrance unattended. You go in and get it out.”
Eddie backed away from the aircraft and said, “I get paid to fly the plane, not for the monkey job.”
Rishi turned his face to hide his laugher. Vinita was also laughing.
Roger was unaware of this, he looked at his watch and yelled, “Eddie, Freddie what are you waiting for. We are getting late.”
Eddie and Freddie backed further away from the plane.
Roger was now angry.
He yelled, “What are you scared of, why are you moving away?”
“Boss a monkey went inside the plane,” Freddie screamed at full volume.
Now everybody was laughing.
“Holy cow, how did it happen? Get it out,” Roger yelled.
Both Eddie and Freddie shook their heads and backed even farther from the plane.
Roger was to call to security personals then Vinita whispered into his ears, “It is Rishi’s drama.”
He started laughing too.
“Hey Eddie and Freddie,” Rishi took off his shoe and yelled, “Let’s get the monkey out or the airplane, let’s hit it with our shoes.”
Eddie and Freddie took off their shoes and walked behind Rishi. They were alert and cautious. Each was shaking the shoe, and waving the other hand.
Rishi shouted, “Hurr! Hurr! Hurr! Hurr!”
Eddie and Freddie also made the same sound, “Hurr! Hurr! Hurr! Hurr!”
Everybody else was laughing hysterically.
As Rishi was at the plane entrance, he screamed, “Monkey is here, hit it.”
Both Eddie and Freddie threw their shoes at the door, jumped out and raced away from the plane. They were wearing just one shoe.
Rishi went in the plane and quickly hid one shoe in the bathroom cabinet and walked out. He picked up his own shoe.
“Hey Eddie and Freddie, Monkey is gone.”
They laughed for long.

It was the time to farewell. There was hugging and crying.
Roger said to Rishi and Hermit, “Thanks for everything. You have transformed my life.”
“Take care.”
“Jai-Ganga-Mai,” Hermit shouted.
Roger said to Sonny, “Take care of your mother. Start the school, once your hand recovers bring your mother to USA.”
Sonny nodded. “Uncle thanks for everything.”
Roger, his mother, Vinita boarded the plane and waved to them. They waved back.
Jet taxied to the runway, took of and disappeared in the sky.

Eddie found his shoe in the aisle but Freddie was still searching for his.
Roger yelled, “Let’s go, you can search your shoe later on.”
Everybody was still laughing hysterically.
Once they were cruising on the level, everybody was hunting for Freddie’s shoe. Vinita found it in the bathroom. It was understood that it was Rishi’s mischief.
They kept on laughing till they landed in Delhi to report the check out from India.

Sonny, his mother and Hermit were to return to Uttarkashi on the same helicopter they arrived upon.
They hugged Rishi. Hermit was weeping.
“Why are you weeping Gangagiri.”
“You are leaving.”
“We all leave one day, cheer up.”
Gangagiri smiled. He looked at Rishi’s hands, dog bite wounds were completely cured, not even a mark left. His head wound too healed.
“Gangagiri, that ointment that you gave me worked like a wonder.”
Gangagiri nodded. “Nature offer lots of wonders, Rishi Sahib.”
“Gangagiri, I feel I want to know more about herbs especially the healing power of poisonous plants.”
Gangagiri nodded again. “Rishi Sahib, anything that can kill, can also cure. All poisonous plants can cure also. Healing powers of some plants are known and of some are not known yet.”
“I will learn more. It is becoming a hobby of mine. Now any plant I see, I want to know more about it.”
They hugged again. Hermit was working hard to resist his urge to weep with a forced smile on his face.

“Uncle Rishi,” Sonny said, “I promise that I will never ever let you down.”
“Please take back your promise.”
“Why?”
“Who knows, may be one day, Ganga Mai need you to let me down. Go with Ganga Mai.”
Rishi waved his hand.
Helicopter took off.

Noon sun was blazing on the sky. Rishi turned and walked out of the terminal with his backpack strapped on his back. Heat of the plains was oppressive but he wanted to walk, he walked two miles. Sun was relentless. He stopped under a huge banyan tree near a village, took off his backpack and sat cross-legged on a brick platform. A soothing air was coming from the mountains.
He was hungry; a Muslim boy came to him with a glass of water.
“Salaam Walakum, come join us for food.”
Boy led him to a green painted mosque in the village.
Several people were sitting cross-legged on the carpet and food was being served. A man handed him a large plate. Other who carried flat breads in a basked gave him three flat breads. One man carrying a bucketful of mutton curry and a service spoon came to him.
“I am a vegetarian.”
That man shouted to a boy, “Mohammad, go home and bring the pot of lentil and vegetable curry.”
Rishi ate the food and chatted with them.
One Muslim elder looked at his backpack and asked, “Where are you going?”
“Haridwar.”
“We are going to Haridwar in ten minutes,” Old man said, “We have a car.”
One boy brought him a cup of tea.

Rishi arrived in Haridwar in the evening and got a free basic room in an Ashram.
He took his loincloth and walked to the holy river, sat on a step by the water, his conscious merged with the gurgle of water, sounds, and smells of the atmosphere.
Enlightened became one with the holy rivers. All rivers are holy.

3

Heads of the opposition party had a damage control meeting. They were repeatedly watching another recorded DVD of Kalu Yadav.
Speaker of the Parliament said, “He washed the clothes, underwear and socks of his secretary Master.”
Leader of the opposition said, “And his secretary Master, was busy writing his poems while wearing a loincloth.”
One said, “Now, they both are living martyrs. The leaders of masses.”
Another said, “Tomorrow he was washing Ghat and doing pushups in the feet of a Hermit.”
Top leader said, “What takes one’s life’s effort to achieve; he is doing it in a day. He is a walking encyclopedia of Tricks and Publicity stunts.”

4

Ex King of Terror sobbed in Karachi, Pakistan, “God you played the cruelest joke on me. You made me the whore of terrorists. You did this to me at the time when I was ready to serve you. Why?”
His phone rang.
Caller said, “Remember me.”
“Who are you?”
“Remember Afghanistan.”
“Omar, who gave you this number.”
“Open the door. We are going to Afghanistan together.”
Receiver fell down from his hands and he had another epilepsy seizure.

Omar walked in and saw Ex. Don of Mumbai convulsing, he took off his sock and tucked it in the don’s mouth and he recovered immediately.
“See,” Omar said, “you love my smell. We are friends. We work for the same cause. Our cause.”
He looked at Omar with fear.
“You ganged up with Rishi and ruined me.” Ex-Prophet-of-crime-said, “You killed my brother Danny.”
“No. I tried to save him but I was a bit late.”
“Thanks.”
“Pakistan means holy land,” Omar said, “On this land I won’t say lies. I killed Rishi in Thailand.”
Ex. Don smiled after long time. “And Mulchand?”
“I killed him too,” said Omar, “in Thailand.”
Both laughed.
Don shouted for his servant, “Zafar, it is the time to give me insulin shot.”
“I will give you insulin shot. Now on we will be living under the same room.”
Zafar brought insulin kit and Omar filled up a small disposable syringe.
Omar pointed his finger on a picture on the table.
“Who are those two boys in that picture?”
Ex. Don turned his head to look at the picture; Omar inserted that needle in an open wound, in the back of his hand, to contaminate it with HIV virus.
“They are my sons, now both studying in Vancouver in a prestigious Simon Frazer University.”
“Good for you.” Omar injected him with insulin and his HIV virus.

End of Chapter 19

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

May 18


Omar was not enjoying his stay in the beech town of Pattaya in Thailand because he neither he was able to eat Thai spicy food and nor he was able to drink any liquor. He was having persistent die-hard fungal infection in his mouth. Initially anti-fungal mouth paints worked but recently everything failed. He was in deep agony; burning in his mouth took away his peace.

He went to see a doctor, who did thorough examination of his mouth followed by general examination. By the needle marks on Omar’s arms; he understood that he used drugs with needles.
Doctor knew what the exact problem was.
He said with deep sympathy, “My-Dear-Sir, I must send your blood for tests.”
Omar sobbed, “Doctor, do whatever you want to do, I am burning in hell, I cannot eat. I cannot drink. Smoking hurts me. Chewing tobacco is also out of question. Even tooth paste hurts me.”
A nurse drew his blood in three small bottles.
Doctor said, “My-Dear-Sir, I will call you tonight.”
Omar said, “But give me some medicine.”
Doctor prescribed him surface anesthetic mouth paint to suppress his burning.

2

Ruling Party leaders including Prime Minister and also Kalu Yadav were to arrive in Uttarkashi before noon to address a rally. Rally ground was near the helipad on the same side of the valley where Roger was staying. There was heavy police activity in the area. Snipers and sharp shooters were stationed on the high places with rifles and binoculars. Police swept the whole hotel. Terrace was now taken over by police where PM was to have lunch with Roger.
Now Hira Singh knew the true identity of Roger, and Prime Minister was visiting to his hotel, he was happy with joy. He repeatedly thanked, hugged and kissed Rishi because Rishi was bringing him more luck.
Since police guarded terrace, it was unpleasing to sit there, everybody was in Rishi’s room. Hermit was still on the Ghat.


Vinita announced, “Rishi has a joke to tell.”
Rishi started:
One pick pocket said to other, “today I had a very bad day, I picked Coalman Sethi’s pocket and found nothing and he caught me and insulted me in the crowd.”
His friend replied, “I too got caught many time but nobody ever insulted me. They beat me up, kicked me, hit me, police and magistrates cursed me and sent me to jail but nobody ever insulted me.”
There was a roar of laugher in the room.
“I am going to temple; I will come back after PM is gone.” Rishi was on his feet.
“Rishi remember you hugged Kalu Yadav and gave him money to return to his village?” said Vinita as he reached the door, “In just a week he is a Super Leader. He is coming to Uttarkashi with Prime Minister.”
Everybody looked at Vinita with a question. It was Hermit who told her about Kalu Yadav.
Rishi turned.
“That was other Kalu Yadav.”
“Hey Rishi, Prime Minister is visiting us,” said Roger, “Won’t you say hello to him.”
“Prime Ministers and Kings come to see you and you are my friend. What else do I need?” replied Rishi.
He left with his loincloth hanging on his shoulder.

3

Rishi walked to the direction of Indravathi Bridge and took the short cut trail to temple and reached there in forty minutes. Priest was busy with devotees.
Last day they all left some litter around the temple and priest had no time to do the cleaning. Rishi picked up a broom and cleaned up the area. With a bucket he started washing the verandah around the temple, where wedding took place.
Priest was embarrassed to see Rishi cleaning the area.
All devotees left and they hugged each other. Together they washed concrete platform.
A group of people arrived at temple to consult some astrological matters with priest, and Rishi resumed his position on the platform and submersed in the views of the valley.
Priest joined him after a while.
After a very long pause Priest spoke, “Yesterday after marriage, Roger asked me for my fee. I said that there was no fee because he is your friend. He insisted to give me money. Finally I asked ten rupee.”
Rishi was submersed in the scene of the valley; his whole body was listening to all voices including Priest’s.
He said, “Huh!”
“Roger gave me a check of ten thousand dollars.”
“Fifty thousand times above you asked.”
“Actually more, Roger is building up a big school complex down the river; he bought hundreds of acres of barren land, a lot more than a university needs. He says the price will double in a week. He will sell the excess land and the cost of the school land would come to free. Hira Singh has negotiated this deal in just one day. I gave the check back to Roger and asked for the partnership in this deal, Hira Singh is a partner too.”
Rishi said, “Roger is a Midas touch man. Any thing he touches becomes gold.”
“Rishi Sahib, you brought me luck, in few days I will buy a better home because I live in dingy home and my children were getting sick in the winter because we are not getting any sunlight inside.”
“Good for you Joshi.”
Priest rose and went to kitchen to make tea. Rishi missed his river bath, he took bath at the tap in his lion cloth.

They had tea on the concrete platform.
“Rishi Sahib, how big is your home?”
“My home is very big.”
“How big?”
“Very big and I have a deck too and scenes are spectacular.”
“Where is that home?”
“Whole world is my home and each mountain is my deck. I am at home,” Rishi replied.
“You are a swami, the owner.” Joshi said.
Rishi was looking at ice clad mountains in the north of the valley. Clouds were playing games with the distant mountains. He felt a brush of cold air followed by a brush of warm air, felt the cold of the concrete under him.

“I am leaving tomorrow,” said Rishi.
Priest was shocked to hear this. His tears fell down on the ground.
“You can stay here for some more time, whole world is your home.”
“Joshi, there is a time to work and time to leisure.”
Joshi cried in silence.
“Rishi Sahib, Roger has a Midas touch, and you have a touch of God. You are the confluence of creator and creation.”
“Joshi, there is only the dance of creator and creation. We all are it.”
Priest wept.
Rishi said, “Well Joshi let’s drink tonight. I am going to take a bath in the mother Ganges.”
He turned and descended down the path. Priest watched him with heavy heart till he disappeared behind the woods.

Rishi reached at the Ghat in one hour and Hermit greeted him. They took bath together and he lay under the sun, on the warm step.
Hermit brought two cups of tea.

4

From the height of the helicopter, as Kalu Yadav saw the holy river first time in his life, he bowed and joined his hands in Namaskar and murmured, “Jai-Ganga-Mai, Jai Kali Mai.”
They wander together and serve Ganga Mai. It they wander together and serve Ganga Mai. I will serve Ganga Mai too. I will take a bath in the holy river. Hope cases arrive here. I will submerse the contents in the river. I am also a suspect in the murder of Poppy and his gang.

They landed in Uttarkashi and first Prime Minister addressed the huge crowd, he wasted no time and a motorcade took him to the hotel where Roger was staying. Other leaders took turn to address the huge rally. After Kalu Yadav addressed the rally and left the stage in rush, Master ran after him.
A high-ranking police officer rushed after him. “Sir where are you going?”
“Where is the Ghat?”
“Sir that is not in your schedule, we have not secured that area?”
“I just asked you the way.”
“Sir one must cross the foot bride to walk to the Ghat.”
“Take us to the footbridge.”
Police Officer started barking on the handheld radio. Ghat was only fifteen-minute walk. Police motorcycles and jeeps raced to the secure the route, footbridge as well Ghat.
Kalu Yadav and Master were taken to a Police jeep. Jeep brought them to the suspension footbridge that was already cleared off all the pedestrians. Kalu Yadav and Master walked on the deserted bridge and arrived on the Ghat. They took off their shoes on the first step and walked to the roaring water.

On the horizon a huge military helicopter appeared and landed near three helicopters. That was the mail helicopter to the ministers, dignitaries and VIP’s.

5

Rishi was washing the Ghat. Suddenly many policemen appeared and Kalu Yadav walked down the steps to the roaring waters of Holy River.
Master sat on a step and pulled out a notebook and a pen from his bag, three poems were born in his heart; they were fresh as the water of the Holy River.
Kalu Yadav cupped his hands and splashed ice-cold water on his face. He came to the holy river first time in his life, he closed his eyes.
Mother Ganges thanks for showing me this day. They wander together and serve Ganga Mai. It they wander together and serve Ganga Mai. I will serve Ganga Mai too.
“Kalu Yadav it is a pleasure to meet you?”
Kalu Yadav turned.
Is this a dream? He slapped on his own face. No.
He was stunned with joy. Tears fell from his eyes.
“Give me a hug,” Rishi said.
They hugged each other.
Hermit also appeared. “Jai-Ganga-Mai.”
As Kalu Yadav bowed to touch his feet, Hermit said, “Give me a hug.”
Kalu Yadav and Hermit hugged.
Rishi and Hermit were standing together and Kalu Yadav lay on the floor and started doing pushups in their feet. Rishi and Hermit were laughing. A lone newspaper man was taking their pictures. He assumed that Kalu Yadav was doing pushups in Hermit’s feet so he focused their cameras on the Hermit and Kalu Yadav.
Kalu Yadav did pushups till he collapsed.
Hermit went to the tiny temple and came with an old loincloth that Rishi used to borrow from him.
He ordered, “Kalu, now have a bath.”
Kalu Yadav took off his clothes and wrapped that loincloth and entered in the currents.
He spent his life in warmer parts of India, cold water hit him and he almost fainted. Hermit threw a bucketful of water over his body and then pulled him out. He was dizzy and shivering. Hermit threw more water over him. It took him a while to recover but he was still shivering and clattering his teeth.
Rishi bought tea for them. Warm tea and sunlight helped Kalu to recover from the sudden cold shock that the cold water caused him. Now he was feeling fresh and full of vigor.
Rishi said, “Kalu Yadav let’s wash the Ghat.”
Hermit brought another bucket; they made a chain, Rishi at the bottom, Kalu Yadav in the middle and Hermit at the top, they started washing the Ghat. Cameras flashed and Video cameras were recording this event. Master was still writing his poems. Suddenly whole Ghat was crowded by a herd of media personals; they were making films and taking pictures of the new Leader-of-the-masses Kalu Yadav. Police was having hard time to control the crowd of people pouring on the Ghat.

Prime Minister met Roger and Vinita and congratulated them for their wedding.
Media was in frenzy because two famous people were meeting and also Indian-born-American-billionaire Roger got married in Uttarkashi so it was going to be International class news. This meeting was not announced in advance.

Prime Minister, Roger, Vinita, Jennifer and Mumbai CEO sat on the chairs on the hotel terrace and lunch was served. They discussed many things. Prime Minister asked for more money to his election campaign and Roger asked for more favors and concessions.

Prime Minister’s political adviser appeared and whispered in his ear, “Sir Kalu Yadav is washing the Ghat and media is giving him more attention that you, you better go there and wash the Ghat.”
“Yes I must. Otherwise he would steal the show,” whispered Prime Minister, “how for is this Ghat?”
“We can get there in less than five minutes.”
“Mr. Roger,” said PM. “Would it be too much to ask, accompany me to the Ghat?”
“PM Sahib, this is An honor.”
They rose; police was again in the frenzy to secure the area. A car brought them to the footbridge and as they crossing it; they saw a huge crowd on the Ghat. Kalu Yadav was wearing a loincloth, washing the Ghat.
Media was giving all the attention to Kalu Yadav. PM felt that he was left alone. He too wanted publicity badly. He rushed to the Ghat, followed by Roger, Jennifer, Vinita, CEO, other staff and party members.

Kalu Yadav saw Prime Minister arriving but he was serving the Holy River so he made no effort to greet him so Prime Minister became a fourth link in the chain but most of the Ghat was already washed.
They were tired and sat on the steps. Master was done with his poems and now he also sat with them.
PM whispered in Kalu Yadav’s ears, “You are an inventor. A genius. Today whole country will see us washing the Ghat.”
PM said, “Kalu Yadav meet Mr. Roger richest Indian settled abroad. He is a hero of our nation.”
Kalu Yadav shook hands with Roger.
“Kalu Yadav you are my best friend.” Roger jokingly said, “You know how?”
Kalu Yadav shook his head. “No Sir.”
“You are Rishi’s best friend and I am his best friend. A is equal to B, C too is equal to B so A and B are equal.”
Kalu Yadav was astonished again.
“Rishi may by your friend but I serve his feet.”
This time Roger was astonished.
PM was getting late, he had to lay the foundation stone of the school complex, that Roger was to build, and then he had to fly to other towns to address more rallies. His Secretary whispered in his ears to speed up the things.
He ordered, “Mr. Roger let’s go.”
They rose.

Kalu Yadav, Master Rishi and Hermit sat near water.
A man rushed to them.
“Sir, I have a message for you.” Messenger said to Kalu Yadav. “Courier helicopter has brought three metal cases for you, what you want us to do with them.”
“Rishi Sahib,” Kalu Yadav asked, “where do you stay?”
Rishi pointed his finger to the hotel situated at the upriver, across the river. “In that hotel where Roger is staying.”
Kalu Yadav said to the messenger, “Send those cases in that hotel.”
Kalu Yadav laughed. “I have a present for you.”
Police was still guarding Kalu Yadav but luckily media personal all left to chase Prime Minister and Roger.
Kalu Yadav asked a police officer to convey the message to the other leaders to leave without him. He will be staying in Uttarkashi with some friends.

They walked to the hotel and found Hira Singh at reception, he looked at them with bewilderment.
Rishi is a friend of another famous man. Is this a dream? He pinched himself.
Rishi said to Kalu Yadav and Master, “Meet my friend Hira Singh.”
Words failed Hire Singh.
“Our friend Kalu Yadav and Master,” said Rishi, “would be staying here at your hotel.”
Hermit said, “And we are hungry.”

They sat in Rishi’s room. Valley, river and mountains were visible from windows and open door.
Master said, “I just wrote a new poem on the beauty of the mountains.”
Rishi said, “Master, I will love to listen your poems but if you have not looked at the mountains, your poems may be lifeless.”
Master was shocked.
“Tip of you pen hid the beauty of the majestic mountains,” said Rishi.
Master collapsed on the bed with tears in his eyes.
Kalu Yadav whispered in Hermit’s ears, “Rishi Sahib killed another monster.”
Hermit too arrived.
Master was staring at the ceiling fan, in a catatonic state.
“Master,” Rishi said with deep affection, “stand up and look at the sunset.”
Rishi led him to railing, he gazed at the mountains; he was mesmerized.
“Rishi Ji, you have opened my eyes. I never looked at mountains but my mind was inventing the words.”
“Master, now that you are here, you drink the valley, Holy River and the majestic mountains with you eyes.”
They drank the view of the valley, tumbling Holy River and the mountains.
No new poem was born that day in Master’s hyperactive mind.

Hira Singh came with tea on a tray followed by Hermit. Hira Singh mentioned to Kalu Yadav that three metal case are delivered for him.
Kalu Yadav discussed this matter with Rishi. Stairs from the hotel lawn led to the holy river, Rishi instructed Hira Singh that those cases be brought by the river.

They were standing by the crashing rapids of Holy River Kalu Yadav broke the lacquer seal from the latches and opened the first case. That had envelops and documents.
Kalu Yadav was enjoying the moment; he started submersing one paper at a time.
Rishi had another idea; he piled up the contents of that case in a heap. Hermit had a matchbox in his pocket he set it fire with the match stick.

Vinita yelled them from the hotel, they looked up, and Roger, Vinita and CEO were looking at them.
Roger shouted, “What are you doing.”
Rishi shouted back, “Picnicking.”
“Can we come?”
“No.”
“Thanks, we are coming.”
“Mention very much.”
Roger, Vinita and CEO came down. They looked at the contents of the heap with curiosity.
Vinita saw some sketches in the heap, she pulled those out.
They looked at Rishi, Hermit and Kalu Yadav’s police sketches.
Roger and CEO felt their nerve chilled, now they understood everything.
Now they were emptying next box, it had clothes in polythene bags. Kalu Yadav tore the bag and a shoe fell down.
“Hey!” Roger shouted, “What my shoe is doing here.”
“I borrowed your clothes,” said Rishi, “and shoes, and an electrical cord. You can have it back.”
“Forget it.”
Kalu Yadav tossed the contents of second case in the fire. Third case had more documents, all went to bonfire.

They were done; they started climbing stairs.
“This Rishi,” CEO whispered in Roger’s ear, “This Christ has no cross made for him.”
“Enlightened and the holy river,” said Roger.

Police was guarding the area especially hotel terrace, because two VIPs Kalu Yadav and Roger were present in the hotel. People, photographers and media personals were still trying to peep from the walls.
They had privacy in the hotel lawn so they stayed there. Hira Singh brought them chairs and started serving tea.
“Rishi Sahib,” said Kalu Yadav, “Tomorrow I will resign from the party, I want to serve your feet.”
“Kalu you go wherever Mother Ganges takes to you.”
“She brought me here at your feet. I am at home.”
“Kalu,” said Rishi. “What appears to be the end may really be a new beginning.”
“Rishi Sahib,” Kalu Yadav said, “Either way I will serve your feet. It I become a minister, your shoes will sit on my chair.”
“Kalu,” Hermit said, “Mother Ganges will sit on your chair. You are a servant of mother Ganges. You take a bottleful of holy water with you. ”
Kalu Yadav touched Hermit’s feet but hugged Rishi, he wept on Rishi’s shoulders.
Roger said, “Kalu Yadav, cheer up. Man.”
They all laughed.
Sonny, his mother and Mahadev joined them; they just came from a long walk in the Inderavathi Valley. In few minutes Jennifer and Roger’s mother joined them, both ladies just had a walk to the famous Vishwanath temple. Joshi the Pundit also joined them.

Hira Singh again arranged a liquor party. All men and Jennifer had drinks in their hands.
Sonny assembled Rishi, Roger, Hermit, Mahadev, Vinita, his mother and grandmother.
He announced, “Today I had a long talk with Vinita Auntie.”
He continued, “You all said, I am free to walk away from Uttarkashi at anytime, in that case I will be on my own, my money will be released to me only if I sincerely complete my sentence.”
They listened to him with attention.
Hermit said, “Son, what are you getting at.”
“Maharaj,” Sonny said, “Yesterday you asked me a question, that what I am going to do about?”
Hermit nodded.
“Maharaj, I am setting myself free from your sentence.”
Everybody was astounded.
Sonny said, “I give all my money to school. I am free.”
His mother asked, “Son this means you are leaving Uttarkashi.”
“No. Mother I will never leave you; I will live in Uttarkashi but with my own will and freedom. I will wash the Ghat till my hand recovers.”
Hermit shouted, “Jai-Ganga-Mai.”
They clapped.
“Rishi Sahib, I thank you from my heart,” Mahadev said, “At that day I was so stupid to call police. You made me a member of your and Roger’s family. I feel blessed to be here.”

They all sat together again. Men had another drink. Sonny had two drinks and his mother snatched and spilled the third. Master was first to get drunk and he started dancing. Then Hira Singh started speaking English. Kalu Yadav was third in the line he started giving speeches. Hermit did tribal war dance, they all doubled with laugher. CEO and Roger got drunk at the same time; they challenged each other for a wrestling match.
Rishi said to Hermit, “I heard you can bray like a donkey?”
Hermit brayed, Rishi barked, Master bellowed, Roger roared, Kalu Yadav mewed, Hira Singh squealed, CEO made elephants sound, Jennifer barked like Chihuahua dog and Sonny crocked like a toad.
They were to drink more but ladies snatched the bottles and spilled the contents.
Hira Singh’s wife joined the ladies. “Are we in the zoo?”
They ate dinner and wanted to have a long walk to sober off but press and Police escorts followed them so they took the stairs and sat on the deserted river area around the ashes of the bonfire.

6

Night Manager of hotel ‘Golden Star’ was brought to the police station again, because was the only witness to the death of Police Inspector Daya Ram. Police had concrete proofs the he has regained his memory and now he remembers everything in proper order. Manoj Kumar helped a police artist to make first picture that was ready in two hours.
Everybody looked at the picture of a bald man.
“Are you sure that this guy was completely bald.”
“Definitely.”

It took another two hours to make another picture.
One Inspector said, “This guy looks like Bill Clinton.”
Everybody agreed.
“That is the reason.” Manoj Kumar replied, “I have remembered his face so well.”
Now we got a bald guy and a Bill Clinton look alike. They all laughed.
Manoj Kumar said, “And they said they were from Amway, they had lots of money.”
Police Commissioner was gaping at him in surprise because he too was an Amway agent.

Manoj Kumar said to the Chief of the police station.
“I ask you to do me a favor.”
“Do you a favor!” Doing favor for free was never Chief’s character.
“Please,” requested Manoj Kumar.
“What?”
“Two men saved my life, I request you to make their pictures. After the bomb, they entered in the hotel and pulled me out of the fire.”
Chief thought for the proposition. If I don’t do him a favor he might mislead us in the future.
Chief nodded to police artist.
In a rush job he made Rishi’s and Hermit’s pictures.

Detectives were dazed to see both pictures.
A Police Inspector yelled, “These ghosts keep coming to us again and again.”
Another police inspector tapped at Rishi’s picture. “Inspector Daya Ram shook hand with this ghost and his only that hand was left in the explosion. Only one hand was found before hotel building came down.”
A detective who was standing with the help of two crutches closed his eyes. “Just one look at these guys brings me misfortune.”
Other said, “These two guys are haunting us like ghosts.”

Manoj Kumar said, “These both guys endangered their lives to rescue my life. They jumped in the burning hotel from the outside and pulled me out.”
Chief said, “Get out and take these pictures away from us we don’t want to see them again.”
Manoj Kumar walked out with two pictures.

“I bet my life,” Chief said to all Policemen, “these two ghosts have nothing to do with three murders.”
He continued “and great diamond robbery.”
“They were just two equal-opportunity-rescuers and that night they hit double luck,” his deputy agreed, “And their good luck intercepted our luck.”
Commissioner of the Police said, “Anyway we are told to close those files.”
“Any reason they gave us?”
“I can only guess, national interest etc. etc.”

7

Omar was sitting with young a prostitute in his air conditioned hotel room in Pattaya, Thailand. He painted his mouth with surface anesthesia ointment.
Phone in his room rang.
“My-Dear-Sir,” Doctor said, “I have to tell you some thing.”
“What thing Doctor?”
“My-Dear-Sir, please come to my office. I am waiting for you.”
Omar ordered prostitute to scram, wore his clothes and walked to doctor’s clinic that was just half mile away.

“My-Dear-Sir.” doctor clapped at Omar’s shoulder with utter sympathy.
Omar looked at Doctor’s face, Buddhist doctor was heartbroken.
“Yes Doctor.”
“For the last several years,” doctor broke the news, “you were an HIV carrier.”
Omar started weeping. Doctor too had tears in his eyes; he clapped at Omar’s shoulder again.
“My-Dear-Sir, you have AIDS.”
Both hugged each other and wept.
Omar sobbed.
“My-Dear-Sir, doctors may treat your symptoms, that’s all they can do. Put your mind in the God now.”
“That’s exactly what I am going to do.”
Doctor prescribed him next generation anti-fungal, painkillers and surface anesthesia.
“My-Dear-Sir, painkillers may not work on you because you are heroine addict.”
They hugged each other and wept again.
Omar left.
Doctor pulled a dog’s picture from his front pocket, kissed it and wept more, because poor animal died at the same morning. Weeping made him relax.

Omar came to his room and wept more.
He muttered, “I will spend rest of my life to serve the Almighty God.”
He called Pakistan Embassy and operator switched him to a man.
“I am Omar.”
“Omar who?”
“Remember me. Remember Afghanistan.”
“Oh Yeah! Omar how are you, long time no see.”
“I want to serve the cause. Our cause.”
“Welcome home, actually we were looking for you?”


End of Chapter 18

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

May 17

Mumbai Police concluded that there was a relation between the murder of three criminals and the dog saving drama because both were two unusual happening in the same vicinity, at the same day and at the same time.

Postmortem report of the 3 murdered criminals had also become a forensic puzzle, medical examiners could only guess that a probable cause of the murder was mainly due to two deadly alkaloids, strychnin and ricin. It was also believed that their murder was an organized effort of some serious criminal syndicate. Another puzzle was the rumor that the diamonds donated to the Prime Minister Relief Fund belonged to Mafia, were stolen from their possession.

Their prime witness Kalu Yadav was now untouchable because suddenly he became a famous leader. People who saw two dog rescuers were not cooperative in the beginning but finally police to make a police sketch of both men. Sketches were to go to television and newspapers the following day.

Inspector General of police, Mumbai got a phone call from Home Ministry to abandon the investigation and wrap up all files and evidences regarding the case to the Home Ministry Head Quarters, New Delhi.

2

It was a beautiful golden morning in the mountains around Uttarkashi. Rishi woke up and found Mahadev staring at the river. They went to Ghat, Hermit greeted them and brought tea for them. They washed the Ghat and then had bath in the thundering river, in the morning sun. When they arrived Roger was doing stretching exercises on the terrace. Rishi and Mahadev waved him. Hira Singh knocked on all rooms and started serving them breakfast. Rishi and Mahadev helped him.

After breakfast Rishi assembled Roger, his mother, Vinita, Hermit, Mahadev, Sonny and his mother for a meeting to decide Sonny’s fate. They all faced the Holy River and sat on the plastic chairs lying on the terrace.

Rishi spoke, “Mahadev why are you here.”
Mahadev pointed his finger at Sonny.
“He planted the bomb,” he said, “My boat is permanently damaged. Either justice or I will go to police.”
Rishi was smiling but everybody was nervous. Roger was sweating and Vinita gave him a handkerchief. He tried to buy out Mahadev in the airplane but Mahadev was adamant, later on he discussed this with Vinita but she suggested him to leave this thing too on the Rishi to decide.
Sonny was trembling.
“Rishi Sahib, you promised” Mahadev continued, “you will personally give me a chance to punish Sonny the way I want, the way I desire and the way he deserves.”
Everybody including Hermit was nervous.
Rishi was sitting relaxed. He was looking at a raven on a pine tree.
He said, “First tell us the way you want?”
“I ask for life sentence. Life sentence lasts about eight years in India.”
Rishi laughed.
“Now what is your desire?” Rishi asked.
“I want him to wakeup each morning in a prison cell.”
Rishi said, “And third is the way he deserves.”
Mahadev nodded.
“Sonny,” Rishi said, “What do you have to say?”
Sonny said, “I am really sorry. I ask for your forgiveness.”
Rishi turned to Hermit and said, “Gangagiri he tried to kill you how you want to punish him.”
They all looked at Gangagiri who was sitting with his eyes closed. Deep inside he was uneasy.
Hermit said, “Mahadev asked for the life imprisonment, most life imprisonments run about eight years in India. I punish him to stay in Uttarkashi for eight years so Ganga Mai has a chance to guide him further. After his recovery period, which is after few days, he must wash the Ghat everyday.”
Mahadev was spellbound to listen this, suddenly he calmed down and looked at the River Ganges, tears fell from his eyes. Sight of the holy river was so comforting and he forgot his revenge.
Ganga Mai, please cleanse my mind and heart. If a Hermit a holy servant of you can forgive, so do I.
Mahadev said, “Yes! Yes! Yes! I agree. If he wants to serve Ganga Mai, I reduce his punishment to four years.”
Sonny was sad but everybody else was smiling. Vinita was holding Roger’s hand; he felt a burden lifted off his chest.
Sonny said, “But I can’t wash the Ghat because my hand does not work.”
“That is why I want you to wash the Ghat so your hand is put back to work,” said Hermit
This time Sonny too smiled.
Roger said, “Rishi what is your verdict.”
“I have no judgment. Everything was an act of Ganga Mai.”
Everybody was silence. Hermit was stunned to hear this.
Another lesson. Who am I to decide? Who am I to judge?

Rishi said, “Sonny, you are free to walk away from Uttarkashi at anytime, in that case you will be on your own, your family will not give you any money in that case.”
Mahadev and Hermit nodded in agreement.
Sonny said, “I will serve Ganga Mai with my heart.”
His mother said to him, “I want to spend rest of my life here in Uttarkashi. Mumbai never gave me peace and your life is not safe there. I have decided to run a free school for the children. Roger has bought me a large parcel of land here by the river. You are free to stay with me and you can teach in the school for a teacher’s pay. Or you can leave at anytime, you and your father both gave me nothing but pain and suffering. Your grand mother is accompanying your Uncle Roger and Vinita to New York.”
“Mother, I will live with you here and teach in the school. I cannot live without you, I will never abandon you.”

Hira Singh brought tea and they all had tea in silence. Sunny looked around the vastness of the mountains and tried to assimilate the fact in his mind that he was to spend at least four years there. He smiled.
His grandmother asked, “Sonny why are you smiling.”
“I am smiling at my luck. I like this place.”
Sonny felt his mind was free after many days, he smiled. Now he felt immense respect towards Rishi, Vinita and Hermit.
He said, “I thank you all for everything and I am going to Ghat to make acquaintance with Mother Ganges and the Ghat.” He rose.
“Give me a hug,” Rishi said.
Sonny hugged Rishi and wept on his shoulder.
“Jai-Ganga-Mai, Jai Kali Mai,” Hermit shouted, “my dear son Sonny give me a hug too.”
Mahadev said, “Yes Sonny, my son give me a hug.”
After Sonny hugged Mahadev, he found Roger too was waiting to hug him.

After Sonny was gone they had another cup of tea.
“Rishi you are a godsend to us.” Roger’s mother said, “We all have a question.”
“Yes mother,” Rishi, asked, “What is your question.”
“You said to Sonny that you have no judgment. Everything was an act of Ganga Mai. Then why you brought him to this poetic justice.”
Rishi said, “So you all want to know?”
Everybody nodded including Mahadev.
“I asked because I have a different answer to everybody.” Rishi said.
He looked at Roger’s mother and said to her, “Mafia was to use him as a pawn to reach Roger. Eventually he would have ruined himself. I did this because you have only one grandchild.” she started weeping.
“Rishi Sahib has rescued your son from Jail and as well Mafia.” Hermit said to them, “You don’t know how far Sonny had gone to deal with Mafia. He gave you back your son.”
“Roger, you have already written off your only nephew.” Rishi said, “Sonny is like your son.”
“Thanks Rishi, you have opened my eyes. He is my son. I am immediately correcting my mistake and going to sit with him on the Ghat. I will love him with my heart.” Tears fell from Roger’s eyes.
Hermit said to Vinita, “Rishi Sahib has put his life in grave danger so you could have a perfect family. Do not blow this up. When Rishi Sahib was going on a mission I wept and begged him to stop but I was on the path of Mother Ganges and she washed my sins and swept past me.”
Tears washed Vinita’s face and Roger pressed her hand.
“Rishi I promise you and mother Ganges that I will not blow this up.” Vinita said, “I will never let you down.”
Rishi said, “Vinita, just live without promises and constrains. Flow like Ganga Mai.”
First time in his life Roger found himself weeping.

3

Priest calculated the best time for the wedding was at the late noon.
Vinita said to Roger, “I think you want me to sign a prenuptial agreement.”
Roger was embarrassed but he nodded.
Jennifer went to her room and brought an envelope.
Vinita said, “I will sign it on the Ghat.”
“As you wish,” Roger said with heavy heart.
Roger, Vinita and Jennifer came to Ghat and sat on the far steps, to protect the documents from water splashes. Rishi and Hermit were laughing near water.
Jennifer handed a stapled mass of documents to Roger, he flipped and glanced at each page. Jennifer handed him a pen, he signed at two places, and then handed it to Vinita.
Roger said, “It is a standard prenuptial document. I want you to read it first and then sign it.”
“Where do I sign it?”
Jennifer said, “First you must read it then sign at the x-marks.”
Vinita signed the document without even looking at it. Jennifer was New York State Notary Public; she counter signed the document and affixed her seal.
“I wish if you had read it?” Roger said.
“You can read mine if you want.”
Roger’s heart skipped a beat.
He said, “I think you should have shown it to me earlier.”
Vinita took out a paper from her purse and handed it to Roger. It was just a one-paragraph document. As Roger read it, his hands were trembling. He watched at the mountains and then at the river. Jennifer took that document from him and read it.
“Oh! Honey you don’t have to do it.” Jennifer looked at Vinita with sad eyes.
Vinita replied, “I already took an oath in the presence of Ganga Mai. It is just a signature ceremony. Mine is a one-way oath and if Roger feels, he can sign it as an acknowledgement. I already signed it.”
Tears fell from Roger’s eyes. His mind was not thinking anymore. He never expected this scenario. Jennifer had already packed the prenuptial agreement in the envelope.
Roger took the envelope from Jennifer’s hand, he went to the last step and submersed it in the rushing waters of Holy River and sat on the last step, Vinita sat with her.
He held her hand. “Your oath has nullified my agreement. Now it is my turn to take an oath in the presence of Ganga Mai.”
He entered in the knee deep, dangerous and freezing cold waters of the holy river with his clothes on. Vinita took his hand to support him. He closed his eyes and murmured, “Mother River, if I give away anything in my life, there will be no strings attached. I will never look back.”

Rishi shouted, “let’s wash the Ghat.”
Rishi, Roger, Vinita, Hermit, Jennifer and Roger made a human chain and took the buckets to the farthest end of Ghat and started washing it. They were enjoying every moment.
Joshi the Priest appeared on the footbridge.
He shouted, “Don’t forget that there will be a marriage today. Now you all take a bath in the holy river and come to hotel.”
Roger and Vinita were getting married in few hours.
They all started splashing water over each other and then they all held each others hands and took several dips in the roaring river.
Rishi and Hermit stayed on the Ghat and Roger, Vinita and Jennifer went back to Hotel to change wet clothes.

Hermit gave a loin cloth to Rishi, he wore it and put his clothes in the sunlight to dry. Hermit brought two cups of tea.
“Rishi Sahib, life with you is an adventure.”
Rishi laughed.
“You are an enlightened person?”
“Gangagiri I cannot argue against ready made conclusions.”
“Please direct me to the path of supreme freedom.”
“Gangagiri if you want freedom then just live free.”
“No Rishi Sahib, I may need to take several births to attain freedom.”
Rishi laughed.
“Why did you laugh?”
“Gangagiri why you may need to take several births?”
“Attaining the supreme freedom takes time.”
Rishi asked, “Gangagiri, you saw a ghost in Alipore?”
Gangagiri laughed. “Rishi Sahib it was your drama.”
“Joshi saw a snake?”
“That too was you.”
Rishi asked, “How long did it take you both to realize that false was false.”
“Well as we saw that it was you, we both realized it instantly.”
“What if you had not seen the truth of the matter, how long would it taken you to realize the truth?” Rishi asked.
“May be forever.”
Rishi said, “Actually you will stray farther from the truth.”
“So you say that with each life we are racing away from the truth.”
“Gangagiri how do you know that you have many lives?”
“It is all written in the books. All gurus tell this. You are enlightened and you must know this fact. What is the fact?”
“Have you seen a nightmare?”
“Yes. I saw one last night. I saw that police was after us and I was running but you were only laughing.”
“Then what happened?”
“I woke up and I was panting and breathless.”
“Gangagiri, you were not racing in reality, why you were panting and breathless?”
“Because I was racing in the dream.”
“Gangagiri, your race to the supreme freedom, in this life or the future lives, is racing in the dream, and you are breathless and panting. You think you climbed a step in each life, and you will climb another in this life and finally you will arrive at your destination in some future life. It is your entire dream. ”
Gangagiri was shocked to listen this.
“Was my race never happened?”
“You were seeing dreams within dreams? You are standing between two parallel mirrors.”
Gangagiri felt he fell in an icy lake. His body went cold and numb. He closed his eyes for long time.
“Rishi Sahib, please not be so cruel with me.”
Rishi laughed.

Suddenly time stopped for Hermit. His whole body listened and felt the roar of water and all other sounds in the atmosphere. He heard rocks were rolling at the base of Ganges. A man waked past with a lotus flower on a stainless steel plate, he felt flower’s color, aroma and sparkle of the metal plate. Mountains were never so green and rocks were never so fresh. He felt the beatings of his own heart. His whole body felt the air.

Images crashed, dreams crashed and dreams within dreamed crashed, it happened in a moment but he saw it happen.
Noise in his mind came to a full stop or rather mind disappeared. Mind gone and its bourdon of conflicts, struggles, and thoughts disappeared and a state of weightlessness happened. Observation happened but observer was missing. Hearing happened but hearer was missing. Watching happened but watcher was missing. His all senses worked but the interpreter was missing.

Suddenly he was back to the old world and tried to figure out what happened to him. A vague vivid memory was left. Hermit rose and walked to the last step and entered in the holy river. He cupped his hands and touched water to his eyes. He knew that for a short time he became one with the creator.
He did not receive any answer but his questions were vanished. He arrived.
He walked out of water and again sat with Rishi.
They both laughed.
“So Gangagiri how many steps are left and how many lives do you estimate to reach at your goal?”
“There is no goal. Goal was false. Race was false. Dreams broke and then instantly a network of dreams collapsed. Waking happened. Arrival happened.”
They laughed again.

4

Roger, Jennifer, his mother and Vinita took car to the forest check post about the temple. Mahadev was also invited; he was to go with Hira Singh and his family, on a jeep with food. Priest went there earlier to make arrangement for the wedding, which was to be performed under the temple verandah.

Rishi, Hermit, Sonny and his mother opted to walk; they crossed Inderavathi Bridge and took the road. Hermit and Sonny walked ahead and Rishi and Sonny’s mother Sonali were behind them.

“Maharaj,” Sonny said. “I think you and Rishi uncle went to Poppy.”
Hermit laughed. “Sonny, didn’t you see TV or news papers.”
“My hand was operated that day, I was admitted in the hospital.”
“That day, you signed many death warrants,” Hermit said, “Poppy, Tony, Danny, his son and at least seventy people died and their properties and businesses destroyed.”
Sonny was stunned and his back was chilled. “But I ---”
“Son, You cannot go back to criminals and you cannot go to police.”
“You all saved me from the Police and also from the criminals.”
“Son,” Hermit asked, “what are you going to do about it?”
“Maharaj I --” Words failed Sonny.
“Do not reply me now? Let the reply come from your heart.”
Sonny was still in shock.
The found Rishi and Sonali were waiting for them at a turn, Sonali was still gasping for air. Sonny was also gasping due to steep climb. They all sat under deodar trees and rested. Butterflies were hovering on countless wild flowers. In the noon sun, Inderavathi valley looked like a bowl of green color with a shining Inderavathi river bubbling through it.

As they all assembled in the temple, a carpet was spread under the verandah. Priest started wedding rituals. Everybody sat cross-legged around a fire that was burning in a pot. Vinita and Roger sat next to each other. Hermit acted as Vinita’s father, Rishi as her brother, Hira Singh’s wife acted as her sister. Mahadev acted as Roger’s father and his Mumbai CEO his brother. Hira Singh volunteered to be the photographer.

First a simple ring ceremony was performed. Then Joshi performed the wedding, Roger and Vinita tied a knot with each other and made seven circles around the fire. As par Hindu traditions fire was the witness of their union. At the end they garlanded each other. Now they were married. First they touched all elder’s feet and then they stepped in the temple together. Hira Singh, his wife and Mahadev arranged snacks and tea on a table.

After wedding, Roger, Vinita, Rishi and Hermit decided to walk to the hotel.
Roger said to Hermit, “I want to give you some money. How would you like to have it?”
Hermit said, “I live my life without any money.”
“Well Rishi, I owe you some money or actually a lot of it. Remember Dr. Shah.”
“You do not owe me anything.”
Roger said, “This means that I took your money as dowry. This is unacceptable to me. This will not happen.”
Rishi said, “If that is the case, consider that money a gift to the school.”
“Look Rishi,” Roger said, “I pledged money for the school, actually it is a big school complex, Vinita has expressed her desire to start a vocational training center for students who are unable to pay.”
“My joy is earning my own living,” Rishi said.
“Well Rishi and Gangagiri,” Roger said, “I accept the defeat and consider the money is gone to school but on one condition.”
Vinita asked, “What is the condition.”
“School complex must be named after Rishi.”
Hermit nodded in agreement and Vinita clapped
Rishi laughed.
“Rishi is a very good name,” Rishi said, “but I got bored with it I am searching for a new one.”
They all laughed.
“Roger, bomb had damaged Mahadev’s boat’s frame, It still runs but steers to one direction. Poor man can’t pay for the repairs,” said Rishi.
Roger said, “He is now my father.”
They laughed again.

Short cut trail crossed the road.
“Well Roger now you are married.” Rishi said, “You are fired.”
Rishi split with them and turned to the trail, Hermit followed him.
Roger said, “Batman and Robin.”
Vinita smiled, “Stop it Roger.”

5

Big time Leader Kalu Yadav, his secretary cum poet Master, Prime Minister of India and his Deputy and many other big leaders they all had a long and tiring day. They stormed the state of Uttranchal on a helicopter and made a half-hour stop at fifteen places and addressed election rallies. PM, Kalu Yadav and PM’s Deputy each gave a brief speech and Master sang a fresh poem at each stop. Helicopter brought them to Dehradoon for night stay.

Home Minister’s secretary personally informed Kalu Yadav that three large cases had arrived from Mumbai. Kalu Yadav had checked his schedule; following day they had to make a three-hour stop at Uttarkashi. There first they were to address a rally and then PM was to have lunch with American billionaire Roger who happened to be having a private vacation there.

Uttarkashi was the only place where they had two hours of time. Otherwise they were busy each minute for the whole month.
Kalu Yadav remembered Gangagiri’s words to Inspector Daya Ram: We wander together and serve Ganga Mai.
If they serve Ganga Mai, I also serve Ganga Mai. I will submerse those boxes in the Holy River in the holy town of Uttarkashi.

Kalu Yadav called Home Minister’s secretary and instructed him to send boxes to Uttarkashi. Indian Air Force’s helicopters were scheduled to make a daily delivery of important documents to PM, while he was away on election campaign. Boxes were handed to Indian Air Force to be delivered to Kalu Yadav in Uttarkashi before following noon.

Kalu Yadav settled in his room and as usually Master intruded.
“You must listen to my newest poems.”
Kalu Yadav had a smart plan. “Master would you do me a favor.”
“Any thing you name it but first you must listen to my poem.”
“OK. Let’s listen to your poem.”
After ten poems Kalu Yadav protested, “Master I am getting late.”
“Late!” Master said, “Where are we going?”
“Master I have a girl friend in Dehradoon. I must see her because she might have heard on the TV that I am here. You know how these girls are?”
“You have a girlfriend in Dehradoon?” Master looked at him in suspicion.
“I am going to see her alone; I may spend my night with her. I want you to give me a best poem for the occasion.”
“I will come with you.”
“No Master, listen. It is a boy-girl thing. I must have privacy.”
Master was in thoughts.
“I will accompany you to her home, I must read you poems.”
“This is not wise Master; she may think that I am showing her off, bringing my secretary to her. Actually I will sneak out from here, otherwise escorts would follow me and love needs privacy, you know.”
Master had no choice.
Kalu Yadav sneaked out of hotel.
Police didn’t care about who left the hotel but entering into it was heavily restricted.
Kalu Yadav walked on the road. He was very happy and singing with joy.
He remembered that he had some money in his pocket but not enough for expansive hotels. He never had enough time to wash and load the poisoned bills in his pockets; they were hidden in his official residence in New Delhi. He had eleven hours of freedom because they were to address a rally in Dehradoon at 9am.

He found a cheap hotel and drank three beers. He ate food in a cheap restaurant and then walked around. He was drunk and forgot that he was a now famous man. He roamed in the markets; he chewed a beetle-leaf and then from a shack drank a cup of tea.
He walked back to hotel and found a huge crowd there. Police was trying to control the crowd. Hotel manager recognized him and spread it to the world. People crowed him and took him on their shoulders and formed a procession. Police intervened and dispersed the crowd. Due to security concerns he was brought back to the hotel he left. Master welcomed him and read him his torture begun again.

Reporters and TV crews were now on the hotel he planned to rest, they were interviewing people there. Many people claimed that they had a nice chat with Kalu Yadav. A poor tea stall owner claimed that, Kalu Yadav the Charismatic leader and Messiah of poor drank tea at his stall.

Deputy Prime Minister entered in Kalu Yadav’s room. “Congratulations! You are an Engineer, a gong-kicker and an object-oriented person.”
Master said, “We are both sons of guns. Let me tell you one thing we both are long race horses.”
“I do believe you.”

6

A group of secret police officials arrived at the hotel in Uttarkashi. Purpose of their arrival was to discuss confidential security arrangements at the hotel, because following day Prime Minister was to have lunch with Roger at the hotel terrace. So far public was unaware of the Roger’s true identity. Few people knew him as Sethi the coal man. Roger asked his Mumbai CEO to handle the situation and also warned them not to expose his identity till PM comes.

7

Ex-Prophet-of-Doom-of-Mumbai called his wife in Vancouver in Canada but Danny’s wife answered the phone.
“Sister is everything alright?”
“Big brother, you are alone, we are worried about you, we have some news for you.”
“Please, I beg you not to give me any bad news?” he asked his sister-in-law.
She sobbed, “Abdul visited here.”
He screamed, “Stab him with kitchen knife, even if you have to spend your whole life in the jail. He abandoned me.”
“Big brother, we should kiss his feet, last evening your Begum Sahiba had a massive heart attack. Luckily Abdul dropped in at the exact time to say us hello. He was with his friend Dr. William. They saved her life. We have no medical insurance Doctor William used his influence to get her best medical attention in the hospital.”
“So he has paid off his debt, now you can kill that swine.”
“Big brother never say this, because his friend Dr. William has used his influence and admitted your sons and my daughter to Simon Frazier University, he is trying to get their tuition fee waived. He has a heart of gold.”
“It is not Abdul’s doing, it is Dr. William’s doing. Kill this Abdul pig, I have score to settle with him.”
“Big brother, don’t be so upset, Abdul is now your son-in-law. We asked him to marry my daughter and he gladly accepted, his refugee petition was accepted and approved in Dubai, he will get his landed card in two months, our Aiysha will get immigration status in six months.”
“To marry our beautiful daughter, you found an ugly bastard who is at least fifteen years older then her,” he screamed in anger.
“Who will marry her,” she screamed back in anger, “her father and brother died a criminal’s death. Her uncle is merchant-of-death, deported to Pakistan. Abdul abandoned you and arrived in Canada, just in time to save the mother of your children, it was God’s wish.”
“He is infidel,” he yelled, “he does not belong to our religion, and if you kill him you will go to heaven.”
“Big brother,” she yelled, “Like you are in heaven after killing countless people.”
“Heaven is after the day of judgment,” he shouted, “I prayed, I paid alums to the charities. I followed the book.”
“You are a murderer and a thief,” she shouted back, “does not the book praise justice against the wrongdoers?”
“Calm down sister, we all are under the grindstones,” he said, “Almighty is testing us.”
“By the way Abdul handed us your cell phone,” she said, “He went back to return it to you but you were already removed out of Dubai.”
“Mail me the SIM card in Pakistan because I need the numbers stored in the memory, I emailed you my new address,” and he said “and throw away the phone in the Frazier River.”
“Big brother, Abdul said that all people in your phone memory are now dead.”
Don had another epilepsy seizure.

End of Chapter 17